On 19 November 2018, Pedro Sanchez publicly signaled Spain’s interest in joining forces with Morocco to explore a joint World Cup bid. As diplomatic frictions between the two nations rose, the plan lost momentum. The Spanish federation, aligned with Portugal and backed by their governments and UEFA, worked to shape an Iberian candidacy that was formally submitted in October 2020. Since then, the Moroccan Crown Prince and current King Mohamed VI has stated that Morocco would participate in the Spain-Portugal bid for the 2030 World Cup, a project whose longevity has faced questions amid regional uncertainties. The three federations reached an agreement that gained formal blessing from their governments, even as Spain navigated recent diplomatic tensions with its partner in North Africa.
Government blesses Morocco’s inclusion in World Cup bid
In 2021, what would later become a unified candidacy seemed improbable. Spain and Morocco had effectively paused bilateral relations after Madrid decided to provide medical assistance to a Polisario Front leader in exile, as Morocco pushed back in protest. The situation reflected broader tensions surrounding regional diplomacy and health concerns that dominated the year.
Ceuta crisis
Soon after, roughly 8,000 individuals, many of them minors, crossed into Spain irregularly via the Ceuta border in what authorities described as the largest such entry in recent memory. Moroccan authorities reportedly permitted the movement, intensifying the diplomatic strain.
Over the following months, relations between Spain and Morocco began to cool and then slowly improve. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and King Mohammed VI engaged in dialogue to express support for a plan that would see Western Sahara integrated into Morocco under an autonomous framework, a proposal long debated within regional diplomacy. Spain’s neutral stance on the Sahara issue had persisted for decades, and both sides sought practical avenues for reconciliation.
Sanchez emphasized that the autonomy plan represented a realistic and credible path to resolving the conflict, a sentiment welcomed by Rabat. The Moroccan government recalled its ambassador to Madrid for consultations and restarted negotiations to resolve a broader set of disputes, including maritime boundaries between Morocco and the Canary Islands, migration management, and the reopening of borders at Ceuta and Melilla for people and goods, with several issues still awaiting closure.
dual summit
The next phase of rapprochement culminated in a landmark two-day meeting in Rabat, where ministers from both countries held extensive talks to address outstanding bilateral matters. The summit symbolized a renewed commitment to cooperation, though the visit by the Moroccan King to meet the Spanish president in person drew significant media attention and sparked debate about its timing and implications for the relationship.
Many parliamentary groups questioned the government’s decision to reverse course abruptly and called for explanations about what Spain stood to gain from the shift. The Sahara issue remains highly sensitive, tied to historical claims and prior territorial disputes. With the candidacy for the 2030 World Cup, the discussion extended beyond sports into broader regional diplomacy and allied considerations.